Ventilated toilet system and method

ABSTRACT

According to some embodiments, a ventilated toilet has an airflow path through an overflow tube to an air space above a water level in a tank, and an air vent path leading from the air space. In some embodiments, the air vent path includes an air duct or conduit leading to an exhaust fan. In some embodiments, the device further includes a dip tube for providing ventilation to the air space upon lowering of the water level in the tank.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to U.S. provisional application No. 60/601,170, entitled Ventilated Toilet System and Method filed on Aug. 13, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to toilets and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing ventilation for toilets.

2. Discussion of the Background

A variety of toilet ventilation systems are known. A number of toilet ventilation systems are shown in the following United States patents, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference: (1) U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,173 B1, issued on Aug. 28, 2001, entitled Devices and Methods for Toilet Ventilation Using a Radar Sensor; (2) U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,853 B1, issued on Apr. 24, 2001, entitled Toilet Ventilation System, (3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,813, issued on Dec. 6, 1994 entitled Self-Contained Toilet Venting System, (4) U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,276, issued on Feb. 5, 1991, entitled Ventilated Toilet, (5) U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,771, issued on May 12, 1971, entitled Air Venting Device for a Toilet.

While these systems may constitute improvements over the use of existing devices such as ceiling ventilation fans, these devices have various problems. For example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,369,813 and 6,279,173 B1 contain electrical components within the toilet tank. These devices may pose serious fire hazards and are potentially dangerous to toilet users. Further, other systems like U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,771 cannot be easily retrofitted and require specially designed toilets and contain a complex system.

Another problem with existing toilet ventilation systems is that due to their design when toilets with a ventilation system such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,813 are flushed, the fan creates a suction that can cause a weaker and slower flush. In contrast, the preferred embodiments of the invention avoid this problem allowing for a faster, stronger flush.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention can significantly improve upon existing methods and/or apparatuses.

According to some embodiments, a ventilated toilet has an airflow path through an overflow tube to an air space above a water level in a tank and an air vent path leading from the air space. In some embodiments, the air vent path includes an air duct or conduit leading to an exhaust fan. In some embodiments, the device further includes a dip tube for providing ventilation to the air space upon lowering of the water level in the tank.

In some embodiments, one or more of the following advantages can be achieved:

-   -   The fumes emitted from the user of the toilet can be readily         removed before mixing with room air due to the close proximity         to the source of emission (e.g., the zone of interest) during         use.     -   The system can have a very quiet operation. For example, since         the air withdrawal is applied at the zone of interest, a lower         level of airflow may be required (i.e., less CFM of airflow can         be used since, e.g., a complete air-change within a room or         facility is not needed).     -   The system can advantageously be configured such that a smaller         volume of conditioned air (e.g., whether heated or cooled) is         removed from the living space using the internal venting from         the zone of interest as opposed to typical room exhaust fan.     -   The design of the side flush valve on the overflow tube helps         result in a stronger and faster flush.     -   The production cost can be approximately the same as that of         existing toilets.     -   The installation cost and complexity would be approximately the         same as that related to installing a standard toilet and a room         exhaust fan.     -   The system can be readily adapted to and applied to multi-toilet         systems, such as, e.g., multiple toilets located within a common         room or facility or multiple toilets located in separate rooms         within a home, office or establishment. In some examples, a         single vacuum mechanism can be used to exhaust air from multiple         toilets. For example, in some embodiments a multi-port vacuum         can be configured to handle a plurality of or all of the toilets         in a residential home or commercial bathroom.

The above and/or other aspects, features and/or advantages of various embodiments will be further appreciated in view of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Various embodiments can include and/or exclude different aspects, features and/or advantages where applicable. In addition, various embodiments can combine one or more aspects or features of other embodiments where applicable. The descriptions of aspects, features and/or advantages of particular embodiments should not be construed as limiting other embodiments or the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by a way of example, and not limitation, in the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 is a bottom view showing a bottom of a toilet bowl tank where the tank contains an enlarged (e.g., 2″ diameter) overflow tube.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the toilet bowl shown in FIG. 1 looking with the enlarged overflow tube, showing, e.g., a clear and straight passage from the bowl to the above water level in the tank.

FIG. 3 is top perspective view showing the interior of the tank shown in FIG. 1, including a flapper valve and flush port on the side of an enlarged overflow tube. (NB: in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the invention, the enlargement of the overflow tube enables a large flapper valve having a large flow area to be mounted on the side of the overflow tube).

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the rear upper side of the tank showing a tank exhaust port.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a portion of the duct system leading from the tank exhaust port shown in FIG. 4, including a transition piece filling an air gap between an exhaust pipe (such as, e.g., a PVC pipe) which extends from the tank exhaust port and the flex-tube (such as, e.g., a bellows-type flexible tube) going to the air exhaust mechanism (such as, e.g., a turbo vacuum).

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view showing an illustrative air exhaust mechanism comprising a turbo vacuum motor encased in a standard metal flexible exhaust tube (such as, e.g., 4″ diameter exhaust tube).

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the toilet tank prior to flushing where the tank is full with water and the dip tube extends to a position below the water level. In this figure, the arrows demonstrate the air pathway, wherein air is drawn from the bowl through the overflow tube, into the air space above the water in the tank, and into the exhaust port in back of the tank.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the dip tube inside the tank with the opening (i.e., at the bottom of the dip tube) exposed (i.e., not under water level), such that air can flow through the dip tube from outside of the tank into the tank.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a dip tube opening on the outside of the tank, which includes an illustrative grating to help limit ingress of foreign items into the tank.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the tank during a flush and refill cycle. (In FIG. 10, water in the tank is flushed through the flapper valve and the tank is in the process of refilling. As a result, water is in such a condition flowing through the passageways between the tank and the bowl (e.g., via the overflow tube, etc.) As shown by the arrows in FIG. 10, during the flush and refill cycle the dip tube opening is exposed, such that air (which is blocked from flowing through the above-noted passageways) can flow through the dip tube opening and into the exhaust port. (NB: Among other things, this enables airflow to continue so as to reduce suction forces applied to the water by means of the air exhaust vacuum and so as to reduce strain on the air exhaust vacuum itself during such a flush and refill cycle.)

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view in the top of the tank showing the dip tube with an opening below the water level. (NB: The length of the dip tube can be adjustable in some embodiments to facilitate installation and set up.)

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of an illustrative toilet that does not have a dedicated water supply tank, such as, e.g., which might be employed in some commercial establishments.

FIGS. 13(A), 13(B) and 13(C) show illustrative standard fittings (e.g., a restricted opening just under the flapper valve, which would inhibit air flow from the bowl to the tank).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, a number of illustrative embodiments are described herein with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as providing examples of the principles of the invention and such examples are not intended to limit the invention to preferred embodiments described herein and/or illustrated herein.

The preferred embodiments include an internally vented toilet which creates a slight vacuum in the toilet bowl which extracts fumes from the bowl into the tank via existing water distribution holes in the bowl. In this regard, exemplary distribution holes are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,853 (see, e.g. FIG. 1, element 60). Typically, such a distribution includes a plurality of holes located around the rim of the toilet bowl. Air travels through these holes to an annular chamber located within the toilet rim. In the preferred embodiments, air then flows through a specially designed two-inch diameter overflow tube (see, e.g., FIGS. 1, 2, and 3) that extends to a point above the water level in the tank. An air removal means, e.g., a turbo vacuum motor or exhaust fan extracts fumes from the bowl through a two-inch exhaust port in the back upper portion of the tank (see, e.g., FIG. 4). The fumes then travel through, e.g., a two-inch pipe in the wall cavity to a flex-tube, which in some embodiments is one and one-half-inch in diameter. The two-inch conduit connects to the flex-tube, through a transition means (see, e.g., FIG. 5). After traveling through the flex-tube the air goes to the turbo vacuum motor which may be encased in a standard four-inch metal flexible exhaust tube (FIG. 6). The air then travels to a suitable roof vent. In other embodiments, other air duct sizes, preferably the same size or larger can be employed.

Before the flush cycle begins, the waterways in the tank and bowl remain open and function as air passageways (see, e.g., FIG. 7). During the flush cycle, the passageways fill with water thereby limiting or cutting off the flow of air from the bowl to the tank. To provide make up air to the vacuum motor during the flush cycle, the tank is fitted with a dip tube that becomes exposed when the flush cycle lowers the water level in the tank (see, e.g., FIGS. 8 and 9). During flushing the exposed dip tube allows room air to enter the tank and satisfy the vacuum created by the vacuum motor (see, e.g., FIG. 10). When the tank refills following the flush cycle, the dip tube becomes submerged (see, e.g., FIG. 11) and the flow of air resumes from the bowl to the tank. Other than a standard flapper valve that has been mounted on the side of, e.g., a two-inch overflow tube, the preferred embodiment does not require any new moving parts or electrical connections in the toilet tank or bowl.

The preferred embodiment of the invention can operate with a very low noise level (such as, e.g., inaudible or virtually inaudible). In addition, some preferred embodiments can be either continuously operated or switched on and off using a wall switch or sensor which can be located in the bathroom. Once turned on, the system operates automatically and can function through repeated use and flush cycles. In commercial applications, the device could run indefinitely or for prolonged periods of time.

Moreover, some preferred embodiments can be adapted for commercial use where a similar ventilation system can be used in multiple toilets within the same room. This may benefit other users of the toilet facilities because obnoxious odors may not travel between toilets, etc. Additionally, in some preferred embodiments multiple toilets can be connected through a common ventilation tube. This may allow for multiple toilets to be ventilated using one air removal means (e.g. a turbo vacuum motor).

The preferred embodiment may also apply to a commercial toilet that does not have a tank (see, e.g., FIG. 12). In these embodiments, the system can operate by utilizing the pre-existing water inlet passageway to also ventilate the toilet. This concept can similarly be applied to multiple toilets in a single facility or restroom, which may, if desired, all vent to a common air vent or duct.

Further, in some embodiments, an existing non-ventilated toilet can be retrofitted to contain features according to the preferred embodiment. To retrofit a non-ventilated toilet, in some embodiments, where necessary, a hole can be drilled (preferably with a diamond drill bit) to increase the size of the overflow tube from its existing size to, e.g., about 2 inches (2″) in diameter. However, in some typical embodiments, the original hole may already be 2 inches (see discussion below). Then, if a dip tube is desired, a hole can be drilled in the side of the bowl large enough to accommodate the dip tube (see, e.g., FIG. 3). Then another hole can be drilled, e.g., in the back of the tank for exhausting air. Next, duct work can be added to connect the overflow tube to the turbo vacuum motor or other air removal means. Then, the turbo vacuum motor or other air removal means can be encased preferably in, e.g., a standard 4 inch (4″) diameter flexible exhaust tube. Finally, the air removal control means, e.g. a switch, can be installed.

Additionally, in the most preferred embodiments, it is only necessary to drill two (2) holes in the toilet, one for the dip tube and one for the exhaust port. That is, in some embodiments, the hole in the bottom of the tank for the flush/overflow is already sized for a 2″ fitting. In that regard, typical standard flush/overflow devices are 2″ at the bottom where they go thru the tank. However, they typically neck down to about 1″ for the overflow tube. Thus, in preferred embodiments, no additional drilling is needed at the bottom of the tank. However, in some embodiments, if the hole in the bottom of the tank is less than that desired for the overflow tube, additional drilling may be employed. FIGS. 13(A), 13(B) and 13(C) show illustrative standard fittings, showing, e.g., a restricted opening just under the flapper valve, which would inhibit air flow from the bowl to the tank.

BROAD SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

While illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described herein, the present invention is not limited to the various preferred embodiments described herein, but includes any and all embodiments having equivalent elements, modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations and/or alterations as would be appreciated by those in the art based on the present disclosure. The limitations in the claims are to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed and not limited to examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive. For example, in the present disclosure, the term “preferably” is non-exclusive and means “preferably, but not limited to.” In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this application, means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitations will only be employed where for a specific claim limitation all of the following conditions are present in that limitation: a) “means for” or “step for” is expressly recited; b) a corresponding function is expressly recited; and c) structure, material or acts that support that structure are not recited. In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this application, the terminology “present invention” or “invention” may be used as a reference to one or more aspects within the present disclosure. The language “present invention” or “invention” should not be improperly interpreted as an identification of criticality, should not be improperly interpreted as applying across all aspects or embodiments (i.e., it should be understood that the present invention has a number of aspects and embodiments), and should not be improperly interpreted as limiting the scope of the application or claims. In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this application, the terminology “embodiment” can be used to describe any aspect, feature, process or step, any combination thereof, and/or any portion thereof, etc. In some examples, various embodiments may include overlapping features. In this disclosure and during the prosecution of this case, the following abbreviated terminology may be employed: “e.g.” which means “for example.” 

1. A ventilated toilet comprising: an airflow path through an overflow tube to an air space above a water level in a tank, and an air vent path leading from said air space.
 2. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, wherein said air vent path includes an air duct or conduit leading to an air removal means.
 3. The ventilated toilet of claim 2, wherein said air removal means is an exhaust fan.
 4. The ventilated toilet of claim 2, wherein said air removal means is a turbo vacuum motor.
 5. The ventilated toilet of claim 2, wherein said air removal means is encased in about a 4 inch (4″) diameter metal flexible exhaust tube.
 6. The ventilated toilet of claim 2, wherein said air removal means can be stopped and started by a control means.
 7. The ventilated toilet of claim 6, wherein said control means is a switch.
 8. The ventilated toilet of claim 6, wherein said control means is a sensor.
 9. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter of about 2 inches (2″).
 10. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter of about 1½ inches (1.5″)-2½ inches (2.5″).
 11. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter of about 1 inch (1″)-3 inch (3″).
 12. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter greater than 1 inch (1″).
 13. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter greater than 1½ inches (1.5″).
 14. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter greater than 1¾ inches (1.75″).
 15. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter greater than 2 inches (2″).
 16. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter greater than 2¼ inches (2.25″).
 17. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter greater than 3 inches (3″).
 18. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, wherein said ventilated toilet is retrofitted on a non-ventilated toilet.
 19. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, further including a dip tube for providing ventilation to said air space upon lowering of the water level in said tank.
 20. The ventilated toilet of claim 1, wherein said air vent path leading from said air space comprises a pipe from the tank exhaust port and a flexible exhaust tube which leads to said air removal means.
 21. The ventilated toilet of claim 20, where said pipe from the tank exhaust port and said flexible exhaust tube have a transition means to connect them.
 22. A method for ventilating a toilet comprising: establishing an airflow path through an overflow tube to an air space above a water level in a tank and through an air vent path leading from said air space.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said air vent path includes an air duct or conduit leading to an air removal means.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein said air removal means is an exhaust fan.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein said air removal means is a turbo vacuum motor.
 26. The method of claim 23, wherein said air removal means is encased in about a 4 inch (4″) diameter metal flexible exhaust tube.
 27. The method of claim 23, wherein said air removal means can be stopped and started by a control means.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said control means is a switch.
 29. The method of claim 27, wherein said control means is a sensor.
 30. The method of claim 22, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter of about 2 inches (2″).
 31. The method of claim 22, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter of about 1½ inches (1.5″)-2½ inches (2.5″).
 32. The method of claim 22, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter of about 1 inch (1″)-3 inch (3″).
 33. The method of claim 22, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter greater than 1 inch (1″).
 34. The method of claim 22, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter greater than 1½ inches (1.5″).
 35. The method of claim 22, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter greater than 1¾ inches (1.75″).
 36. The method of claim 22, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter greater than 2 inches (2″).
 37. The method of claim 22, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter greater than 2¼ inches (2.25″).
 38. The method of claim 22, wherein said overflow tube is a tube with a diameter greater than 3 inches (3″).
 39. The method of claim 22, wherein said ventilated toilet can be retrofitted on a non-ventilated toilet.
 40. The method of claim 22, further including a dip tube for providing ventilation to said air space upon lowering of the water level in said tank.
 41. The method of claim 22, wherein said air vent path leading from said air space comprises a pipe from the tank exhaust port and a flexible exhaust tube which leads to said air removal means.
 42. The method of claim 41, where said pipe from the tank exhaust port and said flexible exhaust tube have a transition means to connect them. 